POPULAR movie director, Chico Ejiro added another feather to his crowned cap on Thursday, September 26, 2013, in Abuja when his movie, When Dreams Fall Apart, won an award as the Best Movie in Nigeria. ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with him about his latest achievement, what more to expect from his stable and much more…

Congratulations on your award, how does it feel winning?

Thank you very much, I feel very happy. I feel great. I thank the Lord Almighty for making it possible. It has been long I did a great movie like this. I give God all the glory. I also thank my wife and family for supporting me and making it a reality.

Can you tell us about the award?

I got it at Abuja International Film Festival. I won the Best Movie in Nigeria. The award is from President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Did it come with any cash prize?

Yes, it came with N500,000. I have been given the money as well.

Can you tell us about the movie that gave you the award?

The title of the movie is When Dreams Fall Apart. It is about child trafficking, child abuse, rape and love. The star actress is Uche Jombo. I also used an international actor, his name is Emmanuel Mensah. Damiduro Young, assistant director, my wife, Joy is the producer. I am the main director.

What inspired the movie?

I want to tell a story about child abuse and child trafficking. They should be discouraged.

What inspired your choice of cast?

I have worked with Uche Jombo before, she is a fantastic actress. She is one of the best in the land. Emmanuel has also done great movies in America and Ghana that was why we brought him over.

What separates your movie from others out there?

The uniqueness and the storyline, we are trying to correct some ills. A lot of people believe that Lagos is a paradise, without knowing some of the weak points of certain people living there. We just gave a picture of a society and correct the wrong in it.

What advise do you have for upcoming directors?

They should work very hard, when they do, they are going to make it. They should also be focused.

How much did the movie gulp?

I don’t want to disclose that, but it runs into millions of naira.

What is your plan for the movie?

It is going to the cinema first. We are discussing with a reliable marketer to approach the necessary authorities. We also have a couple of nominations both international and national. We will go for them. Hopefully, we will clinch more awards.

What were some of the challenges you encountered during the process of production?

Basically finance, getting money to make the movie because of the storyline. Then, transportation from one set to another. You know the peculiar nature of Lagos traffic. We also had problem with light. We used generator almost throughout the shoot.

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